New Books in the Library

It's snowing pretty hard today. What's a good way to spend a snowy day? Well, I'm working right now, but if you have some free time, snowy days are perfect for reading. Here are a few of our many new books for December.

What Makes Us Human? edited by Charles Pasternak

This book contains essays by some of the world's greatest thinkers.  They try to tackle that eternal question: what makes humans different than other creatures?  They explore anthropology, philosophy, and other areas of human thought to try and answer the question.

A Surgeon in the Army of the Potomac by Francis M. Wafer, edited by Cheryl A. Wells

Cheryl Wells helps edit the writings, letters, and documents of an assistant surgeon in the American Civil War.  Mr. Wafer writes about all of the things he sees as a doctor during America's darkest war.  It truly is a view of the war you have never seen before.

The Tyranny of the Market by Joel Waldfogel

We are in some rough economic times right now and this book can help explain part of that.  Our system supposedly provides products and services to satisfy the desire of any consumer.  But what about the things the economy can't provide?  Waldfogel tells us about the limits of our economy.

James Van Allen: The First Eight Billion Miles by Abigail Foerstner

Do you like to read about space and the cosmos?  This book is about one of Iowa's greatest scientists who helped revolutionize the way all humans look at space.  James Van Allen was born and raised in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and became one of the greatest space scientists of the 20th century, helping us learn about the sun, the solar system, and how to explore it all with missions from Pioneer to the Mariner.

So come on over to the library and check one out.  We have many new books to choose from!